Missoula found its way into the news back in April when Tracy-Stone Manning was brought into the federal administration to lend her expertise. As AP News reports, the Missoula-based environmental advocate was brought in to, among many other things, lend scientific expertise to the matter of land management out west . Montana has seen its fair share of extreme weather and stunning climate patterns throughout history, and research being done locally is showing residents how to adapt their life to live through and, perhaps, overcome these events.
Nutrition and lifestyle
Natural disasters are part of life for many Americans and Montana, famous for its fire tornadoes, is no different. Research has shown that fine-tuning nutrition may help residents to cope better with the threat of environmental disaster in the region, and build a more resilient society. How? As one journal published on ResearchGate outlines, public nutrition is a major concern during natural disasters. Building resilience in local citizens to better counter potential drops in the future, and to be able to better deal with the immediate issue, is a big part of ongoing research.
Defeating the phenomenon
Even better than preparation, however, is prevention. This is the focus of an NPR article looking at work being conducted by the Missoula Fire Sciences laboratory and mechanical engineer Jason Forthofer, who are looking at the mechanics of fire tornadoes with the hope of one day countering them. The lab, by looking at the exact mechanisms behind the fire tornadoes and looking at how they might be countered, are creating future resilience in a way that nothing, except first-hand experience, has managed to do so far.
Making good work
The benefits of this research have been shown in the wider state. NIST.gov highlights the destructive Joplin Tornado, the landfall of which was recently commemorated in a 10-year anniversary. The impact of the tornado was subject to intense research and now there are significant gains in Joplin, with a community made far more resilient and aware of the exact workings of tornadoes in a way that will benefit future generations.
Between theoretical research and in-person experience, extreme weather events are receiving the attention they need to be countered in Missoula. With continued effort, Missoula natives will be able to enjoy a level of peace and security perhaps not felt for many years.
